Thinking of you

When you're feeling lonely, hug your children.

Grump Mom Advice 1 Through Whatever

Look, taking care of two kids 22 months apart can be...challenging we'll say to be kosher...and even if you have one, well sometimes it's just a bad day. So here is a piece of advice for the day:

1)Take a nap. I've yet to find a problem that couldn't be resolved by taking a nap.

2)TV solves almost anything. ANYTHING. Except tears resulting from the fact TV time is over.

3)Sell out, but just a lil bit. I've been a Feminist for a long time. I did the Pat-Benetar-pack-up-the-bras-shave-my-head bullshit. I still think long hair is sexy, I still think rouge is my best friend, and selling my soul via financing Walt Disney Club has been the biggest fresh breath I've ever taken. There are a lot of choices that set little gender expextation or racial profiles. No my kids aren't princesses, and no I don't think they need men to rescue them, physically or fiscally, but the songs are stage worthy, the characters are interesting, and I have actual discussions with my children about the world, including their expectations. Their brains aren't made of Play-doh. Talk to them about what they're absorbing, and trust them to analyze and apply what they learn--then the world is a little less evil.

4) Putting together furniture is for men and people that shop at Ikea. It is seriously terrible.

5) Sometimes you get the urge to really cuss out your kid. Don't do it. The years of emotional trauma stick apparently. Instead when they're sleeping go through that toy box and throw away junky shit. It's like a sneaky ego slap. Haha, take that telling me my food tastes like doodey! Not they're loved stuff, just, you know, maybe that garage sale buy of Tickle Me Cookie Monster. And maybe that creepy plastic garbage that goes off on its own constantly. (I mean, it knows I'm near.)

Just a Little Bit on Sanity

1. Struggling is normal: I cannot tell you why mothers feel the need to lie about their little ones being constant angels, and make you to be the odd one out, but let me assure you, you are not alone. Incessant crying? That feeling of rejection? Relentless tantrums. Tell them bitches I told you to holler, Shut the fuck up, at the top of your lungs. Motherhood is magical, sometimes, but most of the time it's scraping by. Pure and simple. Sometimes it's about surviving the day and if that means putting them to bed early with the evil Walt Disney, so the fuck what? You teach your children to be honest, intelligent, and above all thinkers, and the lack of feminist educational films out there won't be so depressing.
2. Questioning your skills?: totally normal. Fighting with your partner, absolutely. And ladies (or gentlemen) let me tell you, once the dam broke and I found a community of honest parents, they revealed to me I wasn't alone in nearly divorcing my husband while tending to two colicky babies. I try new things, and I fail constantly. My husband and I have an ongoing joke: when something has gone wrong, we laugh and say parenting fail, and high five; we also do the reverse. When my toddler first counted backward from ten, we high fived then too.
3. Have confidence: you are doing a good job. You brought something truly special into this world. Take a moment--now appreciate yourself. You won't wreak of puke and piss for long. It really doesn't last. You will survive potty training and breast feeding, but no, you will never sleep.

Mad Mom Skill

Mad skill acquired during my two years as Mom:

Eating cereal out of Tupperware while feeding the baby without spilling milk or getting it in my hair.

Swiping otherwise cleanable things into the floor for the dog.

Bathing in less than one minute.

Not bathing for a week.

When a dish looks impossible to clean, and it's cost has been mentally weighed, just throwing it away.

Pouring milk back into the container because it's still pretty good.

Dumping canned vegetables onto a plate.

Pretending like I'm sleeping so my toddler won't ask to get up.

Keeping the toddler up late so I can sleep in.

Knowing the instant someone begins a poop.

Smelling poop for an hour before realizing it's actually on me.

Holding my poop. 

Pretending I'm pooping to get away from the kids. 

Pooping in under a minute.

Making up stories.

Making up words and skipping pages to otherwise well known stories.

Telling lies.

Telling creative truths.

Predicting tantrums.

Managing tantrums.

Having tantrums.

Having a good family cry.

Having a good family sleep.

Fitting three people in one tub.

Turning up music so the kids can't hear me getting in the tub.

Hiding laundry when guests come over.

Doing laundry--oh yea right.

Did I mention crying?

A Note on Lye

The environmental impacts of creating a lye based soap or cleaning product is presented here. As a family, we have chosen to avoid products using this base component.

Quote :
Sodium hydroxide is very corrosive. Sodium hydroxide should be kept away from drinking water source because it may die or have severe scarring of tissues in humans as well as animals.

Molten sodium hydroxide has characteristics as faster decomposition capability. Sodium hydroxide in the atmosphere decomposes to form sodium oxide, which is a hazardous gas. The presence of this gas in the atmosphere is a source of air pollution. Air pollution not only affects humans but also affects the environment adversely by destroying plants in the wild, putting additional stress on ecosystems.

The decomposition of Sodium hydroxide by reaction with certain metals such as aluminum, tin and zinc releases explosive hydrogen gas. Sodium hydroxide should not be allowed to come in contact with these metals. This gas results in direct poisoning of the environment.

Also, when Sodium hydroxide comes in contact with acids and organic halogen compounds, especially trichloroethylene, causes violent reactions. Sodium hydroxide even in fairly dilute solution reacts readily with various sugars to produce carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide in turn adversely affects agriculture by reducing crop yields.

Pre- Production environmental impacts

During the manufacture of sodium hydroxide, mercury forms an essential part of the mercury cell process. Mercury is a very harmful element and stringent steps are taken to control and minimize the mercury usage during manufacture. Mercury entering or leaving the cell is washed with filtered water to remove any impurities that may be present. This water can prove detrimental to the aquatic life. Therefore this water should be passed through a special mercury trap where the mercury could be recovered. Also mercury vapor may be contained in flu gases. This gas has pollutes our environment. Therefore this vapor should be drained and returned to the cells.

Bhardwaj P. 2001.
http://www.oocities.org/tiger_dil3000/

Rant On Cloth Diapering

Making Reusable Wipes

Cloth Dipes For Sale, Bum Genius 4.0 Elemental

Bum Genius 4.0 Elemental

Set of 10 in variety of colors (not all pictured as in use)

2 light pink

2 mint

2 beige

1 yellow

1 lime green

1 bubble gum pink

1 lavender 

No stuff system 2 layer sewn-in insert. Some minor staining on some of the diapers from newborn stool. Used no stain removing products on diaper and cared for according to instructions. No odors. Staining is purely cosmetic. Can be line bleached or hand removed if desired. Organic soap and vinegar used only for washing, hence the staining. Pictured here are the worst stains. Can provide more photos if necessary. No stretching or broken snaps. Used for 1.5years. Payed 25$ a piece.

Here is a boutique link for comparison:
http://www.cottonbabies.com/product_info.php?cPath=98&products_id=4401

Turns out I prefer pocket diapers for smaller babies. No problems with these just not suited for my cleaning tastes. If color is an issue cloth diaper covers add an extra layer of comfort and protection while hiding color. Looking to get 10$ per diaper. Text 440/541/3356 if interested.  

Told You So, Post #1

Things I've learned the hard way in two years of Motherhood: 1)The dishes can wait, 2) Always shut the toilet lid, 3) a toothbrush is in fact a weapon, 4) get old, use a crock pot, 5) you WILL cry and at some point have the urge to flip off your own kid. Words of wisdom for the day friends and future mommies, and Ya, Ma, I know, you told me so.